i think i may have BPD!

[nancy362]

Dear Dr., i am 16 years old. Over the past couple of months i have been depressed only for a couple of hours than it would go away. At first i thought i was Bipolar, but then i heard about a disorder called Borderline Personality. I went online and researched the symptoms and realized i was a perfect match. My symptoms are exactly what a Borderline has. I dont know what to do, i cant find a therapist and i dont want to tell my family because im afraid they will only judge me and accuse me of only wanting attention, but i dont. I found a psychriatric hospital, but im not sure if im ready for such a big step. No doctor has diagnosed me, although i know for a fact im borderline... Please can you give me any advice i would appreciate it! Thank You!

[pixipatrin]

I've had a physically and mentally demanding year, and it left me diagnosing myself with heaps of things- mostly physical, some mental. The fact is you do need to see a professional. However, my mom works in a psychiatric hospital and knows a lot about what it takes to get into one. Chances are there are so many people with more dangerous mental disorders that there is a very slim chance you would even be able to get into a hospital, and if you read books about the hospitals... it doesn't sound like a pretty place to be either.

My advice is to talk to your parents, see a professional, call a crisis line (if that's what it reaches)

I'm seeing professionals for what they call "Generalized Anxiety Disorder/Depression"

And you should do it fast, before your life is eaten up. I've missed my whole first term of college.

[Venora Moonwind]

I got to agree with catlover mom You need to see a doctor first and get evaluated a psychiatrist that can make a proper dx  and get you help help. do that first then go from ther.I personally dont trust those on line tests.and I wish they wouldnt offer them.
see a doc and let us know how you are.
Love Venora

[MARIEALICE35]

HEY NANCY YOUR SO YOUNG,  IF I COULD GET YOU TO TRY TO READ A BOOK OF TEENAGERS AND THEIR HORMONES
HOW THE CHANGE FROM 13 TO 21 IS SO HORMONALLY DEMANDING THAT IT NEARLY DRIVES YOU INTO A NUT HOUSE.
THEN IF YOU REALLY THINK YOU HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT GOING ON WITH YOUR LIFE AND FEELINGS THEN MY ADVICE IS IF YOUR SCARED TO TELL MOM AND DAD THEN JUST GO CHECK IN YOURSELF FOR YOURSELF CAUSE LETTING DISORDERS GO MAKES THEM GROW AND EAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE UP.
  GOOD LUCK

[catlovermom]

Wow, you're kind of putting the cart before the horse here.  Almost everyone has one more more or even many signs of a mental health issue without actually HAVING the disorder.  Almost everyone has some borderline traits as well.  

It's bad news to diagnose yourself.  Think about what you're doing here - a doctor has not even diagnosed you, yet you want to check yourself into a hospital?  You should only go that far if you are seriously considering harming yourself or someone else.  If you aren't having those kinds of thoughts, your first step would be to find a counselor.  Try your school, church, or community.  Many places offer free or low cost plans.  If you can, ask your parents.  Do NOT tell them you have BPD because you don't know that you do.  Just tell them you're having some problems and would like to see a counselor.  

You sound like talking to a professional would be a good thing to do, but don't diagnose yourself with a serious mental health problem until you've been evaluated by someone qualified to do so.

[adenzangel]

I am 22 yrs old and I have Borderline Personaltiy Disorder. BPD sufferers are basically people that have a multiple array of symptoms. Really the only course of treatment for BPD is cognitive behav. therapy or DBT therapy. If you are unable to find a counelor at the moment there are BPD work books out there and some are at the library. They really help to begin to work on yourself. Medication is really only to get the BPD sufferer to treatment but it is learning to manage the way you cope with outside stressors that is key. Hospitalization is a big step. I have been to a few. If you do decide that it is what you want to do you need to make sure you do it right the first time. Otherwise you will find that you can get in a bad cycle of going in and out of them. If you can't tell your parents talk to a school counselor or mabey a teen crisis/chat line. They too are great resources of information. Good luck on your search.